Extras, extras, read all about it...A movie set to be filmed in Redcar will need up to 1,000 extras for its Teesside scenes, it has been confirmed.

Wartime drama Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and possibly Jude Law, is about to be shot by Working Title Films - makers of such box office smashes as Nanny McPhee and Notting Hill.

Location manager Adam Richards confirmed Redcar was in line for a major role.

The plan is to recreate wartime Dunkirk on the beach, as long as logistics can be ironed out.

More talks are due later this month for the movie project that has got Redcar talking.

And according to the town's foreshore manager Paul Castle, it could mean hundreds of Redcar folk getting in on the act.

He said: "Apparently, they might be looking for up to 1,000 extras for some of the Redcar scenes.

"They've had some digitally enhanced photos done to give an idea what Redcar would look like as Dunkirk beach and they're stunning.

"They need 1,000 extras but, by some trickery, they can make it look like 20,000 in the film.

"However, English Nature would need to be on board to ensure we could use the dunes and beach."

Mr Castle said he had regular inquiries about using Redcar and Saltburn for filming - a forthcoming episode of ITV drama The Royal was filmed in Saltburn, for example, but something on Atonement's scale was "a very exciting project to be involved with."

He said: "It would have tremendous spin-offs. For example, there'd be 200 crew staying in and around Redcar and Cleveland for up to four weeks.

"And that's before the effects of having Redcar in the film itself."

Redcar would feature for about 25 minutes in the film, it is believed.

Neil Bates, manager of the town's Regent cinema, was delighted at the prospect of showing a blockbuster featuring Redcar.

He said: "A couple of months ago, the location team turned up, knocking on the door. They took a lot of photos and said they were really interested but, to be honest, I took that with a pinch of salt. Then, on Tuesday, Adam Richards phones up!

"I'm just very excited about Redcar finding itself on the silver screen nationwide."